Canada’s Department of Natural Resources (NRCan) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) and the Department of Energy of the United States (DOE) signed an Implementing Arrangement on January 13, 2015, for collaboration in nuclear science and technology.

The Implementing Arrangement will strengthen relations with Canada’s largest energy trading partner and reinforce the relationship between the DOE and NRCan and AECL. It will allow Canadian researchers to collaborate with U.S. colleagues on a range of nuclear S&T topics, including non-proliferation and safety and security, which are core federal responsibilities.

The Arrangement will allow scientists in both countries to leverage complementary facilities and expertise in order to stimulate innovation and efficiencies. 
Collaboration with the U.S. in nuclear science and technology will contribute to a common understanding and an integrated development approach incorporating non-proliferation, safeguards and security technologies into the most basic elements of nuclear systems and fuel, thereby strengthening non-proliferation frameworks and protocols.

The participants will engage in this cooperation through the U.S. International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (I-NERI) program, which provides an effective means for international collaboration directed toward achieving better coordinated and more effective energy research and development for the mutual benefit of the participating entities, based on equality and reciprocity. The Arrangement will expand the range of options for bilateral engagement, enhancing the opportunities for Canadian laboratories such as AECL’s Nuclear Laboratories and NRCan’s CanmetENERGY, to collaborate with their U.S. counterparts.

The Arrangement does not create any new legally binding obligations for work or resources.